Anagallis monelli plant named &#39;Wilcat Mandarin&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultiva of  Anagallis  plant named ‘Wildcat Mandarin,’ characterized by its vigorous and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching growth habit; numerous single flowers that are bright orange in color with a pink center; and good garden performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAnagallis plant, botanically known as Anagallis monelli, previouslyidentified with code number UNH 062-2 and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘Wildcat Mandarin’.

The new Anagallis is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Durham, N.H. The objective of the breeding program isto create new compact Anagallis plants with freely and early floweringhabit.

The new Anagallis originated from a hybridization made by the Inventoron Feb. 28, 2000 between two proprietary selections of Anagallismonelli, not patented, identified as code number UNH 950-2, and UNH924-3. The new Anagallis was selected as a single plant from theresulting progeny in Durham, N.H., on the basis of its plant habit andattractive flower coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttingssince Oct. 15, 2000, taken in Durham, N.H. has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Anagallis are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘Wildcat Mandarin’ have not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity anddaylength without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Wildcat Mandarin’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Wildcat Mandarin’ as a newand distinct cultivar:

1. Vigorous and outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely branching growth habit:

3. Numerous single flowers that are bright orange in color, with a pinkcenter.

4. Good garden performance.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Durham, N.H., plants of the newAnagallis differed from plants of Anagallis ‘Wildcat Orange’ U.S. PlantPat. No. 15,136 P2, in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anagallis were more upright and vigorous thanplants of the cultivar ‘Wildcat Orange’.

2. Plants of the new Anagallis had larger flowers than plants of thecultivar ‘Wildcat Orange’

3. Plants of the new Anagallis had orange flowers that were brighterthan plants of the cultivar ‘Wildcat Orange’ and had a pink center.

4. Plants of the new Anagallis had larger leaves than plants of thecultivar ‘Wildcat Orange’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Anagallis.

One photograph comprises a side perspective view of one typical 20-cmcontainer of ‘Wildcat Mandarin’ with three plants.

The other photograph is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of‘Wildcat Mandarin’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Durham, N.H., in a heatedpolyethylene-covered greenhouse with 21° C. day/18° C. night set points.After planting rooted cuttings, plants were grown for about four monthsin 20-cm containers with three plants per container. Color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Color was evaluated under indirect, natural light.

-   Botanical classification: Anagallis monelli cultivar ‘Wildcat    Mandarin’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Anagallis monelli            identified as code number UNH 950-2, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Anagallis monelli            identified as code number UNH 924-3, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About five days at 21° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About 15 days at 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white, color 155D.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Annual flowering plant; vigorous; initially upright,            then semi-upright to outwardly spreading and trailing;            uniformly mounded plant form. Freely branching habit with            lateral branches potentially forming at very node.        -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread), single plant.—About 40 cm.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous; rapid growth rate.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About            2.5 mm. Internode length: 3-4.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite; towards            terminals, in whorls of three; simple; sessile. Length:            About 2.5 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: oblong to            oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper            and lower surfaces: 144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 137C.            Venation, upper surface: 137A. Venation, lower surface:            137C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single star-shaped flowers; flowers            face mostly upward or outward; terminal or axillary; freely            flowering habit. 3-4 flowers per node; about 8 open flowers            and about 12 flower buds per lateral branch at one time.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower from April to            October in the Northern Hemisphere until frost in the            autumn; flowering continuous during this period. Plants            start flowering about six to eight weeks after planting            rooted cuttings. Flowers not persistent.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four to five days.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.

Flower size.—Diameter: 2.7-2.9 cm. Depth (height): About 5 mm.

-   -   -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Ovate. Color: 34A.        -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five petals arranged in a            single whorl. Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm when            extended. Shape: Rhomboid, edges curl upwards. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Wedged. Margin: With tiny teeth. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, velvety. Color: When            opening, upper surface: 32A. When opening, lower surface:            34A. Fully opened, upper surface: 33B; base, 67A. Fully            opened, lower surface: 33C; base, 67A.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Five sepals arranged in a            single whorl between the petals; star-shaped. Length: About            7 mm. Width: About 1.2 mm. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: 137A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Angle:            About 45° from the main stem. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Anther shape: Sickle-shaped. Anther length: About 2 mm.            Anther width: About 1 mm. Anther color: 12A. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: 12A. Filament length: About 4 mm.            Filament width: About 1 mm. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Style length: About 5 mm.            Style color: 67A. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 146C.            Ovary color: 146C.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and/or fruit production is moderate under            open pollination with other Anagallis plants.

-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Anagallis have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Anagallis.

-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Anagallis have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures from −5 to    40° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Anagallis plant named ‘WildcatMandarin,’ as illustrated and described.